Big East Recap for April 4th

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – Senior starter Keith Cantwell (Tinton Falls, N.J.) (4-0) struck out seven batters while allowing only one earned run in his second complete game of the season while classmate Matt Smedberg (Rockaway, N.J.) went 1-for-3 with a three run triple as Seton Hall defeated Connecticut, 6-3, Saturday afternoon at Owen T. Carroll Field. With the win, the Pirates ended their three-game losing streak and evened the three-game BIG EAST Conference series at one game apiece with the rubber match set for tomorrow afternoon.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Seven home runs over a two-game span powered the West Virginia University baseball team to a two-game sweep over Georgetown on a Saturday doubleheader at Hawley Field. The Mountaineers (22-6, 7-1) won game one, 10-6, and defeated the Hoyas (10-18, 3-5) in game two, 10-5.

Senior Joe Agreste led WVU with three home runs on the day, including two round-trippers in game one. The Chesapeake, Va., native raised his batting average by 17 points today, going 4-for-8 overall as he joined a plethora of WVU hitters who had standout performances.

CINCINNATI, Ohio – Sophomore righty Thomas Royse struck out a career-high 10 batters to earn his first win of the season and lead the Louisville baseball team to a series-clinching 12-7 win over Cincinnati on Saturday evening at Marge Schott Stadium.

The win, combined with Friday night’s 13-3 victory over the Bearcats, clinched the second BIG EAST series win of the season for the Cardinals (20-8, 5-3 BIG EAST). The series finale between U of L and UC (13-14, 2-6 BIG EAST) is set for Sunday at 2 p.m. ET, and the game will be televised nationally by ESPNU.

TAMPA – The University of South Florida baseball team defeated Pittsburgh for the second consecutive night behind a pair of home runs from redshirt freshman Todd Brazeal.

Brazeal went 3-for-3 at the plate and collected five RBI, including a pair of home runs on the night. The slugger also walked twice and scored four runs in the game. The two home runs was the first time a Bull hit a pair of home runs in a game this season, and the first since Addison Maruszak went yard twice against Villanova on April 26, 2008.

“We told Brazeal in batting practice that we are tired of seeing get just base hits, it is time for some home runs,” said Coach Lelo Prado.”He had a great night, and he has been having a great year for us. Tonight, he hit it for power.”

QUEENS, N.Y. – St. John’s rallied from a 10-6 deficit in the ninth inning of game one and an 8-0 deficit in the fourth inning of game two to sweep a double header from Rutgers in BIG EAST action. Brian Kemp combined to go 7-for-11 with eight RBI to lead St. John’s (16-10, 6-2). Jimmy Parque finished the day 6-for-9 with four RBI, while Joe Panik added five RBI to help pace the Red Storm. Carlos Del Rosario had three RBI on the day, including the game-winning RBI with two outs in the bottom of the tenth of the first game. Ryan Cole (2-0) and Stephen Rivera (2-2) each notched wins on the mound for St. John’s. Michael Lang combined to go 6-for-11 with five RBI and Dan Betteridge was 4-for-8 with four RBI to pace Rutgers (12-15, 2-6).

Rutgers took an early lead in the top of the first of game one as Lang led off the game with a solo home run. The Scarlet Knights went up 2-0 in the second inning. After Luis Feliz led off with a double, he moved to third on a groundout before scoring on a Russ Hopkins sacrifice fly.

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame broke open a 4-3 game by scoring five times in the eighth on the strength of triples by senior Jeremy Barnes (Garland, Tex.) and sophomore Cameron McConnell (Bannockburn, Ill.) to defeat Villanova, 9-3, and complete the weekend sweep. The sweep was the first in the BIG EAST for the Irish since they swept Villanova last season (April 11-13). Junior Eric Maust (Alpharetta, Ga.) turned in an outstanding performance on the mound, falling just two outs shy of the third consecutive complete game victory for the Irish (19-10, 5-4).

Sophomore David Casey (Whitefish Bay, Wisc.) went 2-for-2 and reached base in all four plate appearances. Casey is now batting .550 (11-for-20) over his past six games. Barnes, McConnell and sophomore Mick Doyle (LaGrange Park, Ill.) had two hits apiece for Notre Dame, with Barnes driving in three and McConnell two. Sophomore Greg Sherry (Mendham, N.J.) turned in a magnificent defensive effort, recording seven assists in the game and 14 on the day without an error.

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